with complete
attention.

Summer and winter Mastor was accustomed to leave his master's bedroom
before sunrise to prepare everything that Hadrian could need when he rose
from his slumbers. There was the gold plating to clean on the narrow
greaves and the leather straps which belonged to his master's military
boots, his clothes to air and to perfume with the slight, hardly
perceptible scent that he liked, but the preparations for Hadrian's bath
were what took up most of his time. At Lochias there were not as yet--as
there were in the imperial palace at Rome--properly-filled baths; still
his servant knew that here, as there, his master would use a due
abundance of water. He had been told that if he required anything for his
master he was to apply to Pontius. Him he found, without seeking him,
outside the room meant for Hadrian's sitting-room, to which, while the
Emperor still slept, he was endeavoring, with the help of his assistants,
to give a comfortable and pleasing aspect. The architect referred the
slave to the workmen who were busy laying the pavement in the forecourt
of the palace; these men would carry in for him as much water as ever he
could need. The body-servant's position relieved him of such humble
duties, still, when on the chase, when travelling, or as need arose, he
was accustomed to perform them unasked, and very willingly.

The sun had not yet risen when he went out into the court, a number of
slaves were lying on their mats asleep, others had camped round a fire
and were waiting for their early broth, which was being stirred with
wooden sticks by an old man and a boy. Mastor would not disturb either
group; he went up to a party of workmen, who seemed to be talking
together, and yet remained attentive to the speech of an old man who was
evidently telling them a story.

The poor fellow's heart was heavy and his mind was little bent on tales
and amusements. All life was embittered. The services required of him
usually seemed to him of paramount importance, beyond everything else;
but to-day it was different. He had an obscure feeling as though fate
herself had released him from all his duties, as if misfortune had cut
the bonds which bound him to his service to the Emperor, and had made him
an isolated and lonely being. It even came into his head whether he
should not take in his hand all the gold pieces given him sometimes by
Hadrian, or which the wealthy folks who wished to be the foremost of
those